An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.

An article of footwear includes an upper that has a body extending over at least a portion of a first side and a second side of the upper. A laceless fastening system includes a strap having an anchored end fixed at the second side and a distal end selectively remote from the upper. A first fastener is fixed to an outer surface of the body on the first side. The first fastener is less elastic than the body. A segmented second fastener is fixed to the inner side of the strap. The segmented second fastener includes a proximal segment and a distal segment closer to the distal end of the strap than the proximal segment and spaced apart from the proximal segment along the strap by an exposed portion of the strap. The segmented second fastener is less elastic than the strap.

Shoe fastening assembly for a split vamp shoe having at least a pair of opposed eyelets on either side of the split and includes an elongated rigid member with an arcuate curved lower surface and a pair of spaced apertures at each end of the member and a throat extending outwardly from each aperture, and a continuous elongated elastomeric band located in each aperture and passing beneath the member and lying on the tongue of the shoe. The band cross-section at rest is larger than each aperture and when stretched readily passes through each throat. A plurality of members and bands are provided for additional pairs of eyelets on the shoe and methods of fastening a shoe are herein included.

An article of footwear has an upper with multiple components. The upper includes a fastening system with a moveable assembly. The moveable assembly may include a flap portion and a throat portion. The moveable assembly is attached to the upper. The moveable assembly may be readily moved to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear.

A fastening system for use in shoes and articles of clothing that includes a fastening strap with openings on each side of the strap and a rivet. The rivet has a button and a retainer. The button includes a base with a recess on a first side and a stem on a second side of the base. The stem extends from the base. The button also includes a top portion. The top portion diameter is larger than the stem diameter. The retainer has a shank extending from a clamping head. The shank is being configured to fasten within the recess of the button, while the retainers extend through two opposite holes of a shoe or an article of clothing for fastening with the buttons. The openings of the fastening strap are adapted to fit over the top portion of each of the button.

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. A sole plate can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive a component. The sole plate can be configured to provide greater stability to a sole structure. In some cases, the sole plate can be used to receive a component that can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system.

An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.

A shoe may include an upper portion constructed from a continuous textile (e.g., a knit textile) that includes an elastic region and a structural region. The elastic region may be positioned about a perimeter of an opening into a cavity configured to receive a wearer's foot, and the elastic region may be configured to secure the shoe to a wearer's foot. The elastic region may have a first elasticity that is greater than a second elasticity of the structural region. In an unworn configuration, the elastic region may cause a tread surface of a sole of the shoe to have a continuous curvature. In a worn configuration, substantially all of an intermediate section of the tread surface may contact a surface on which the shoe is placed. The elastic region may improve the performance of the shoe, including the comfort and durability.

An article of footwear has an upper with tensioning components. The upper includes a fastening system with a tensioning device. The tensioning device may be utilized with a plurality of cables. The tensioning device is removably attached to the upper by a clasp element to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear. The tensioning device can allow the lengths of the cables to readily change in order to accommodate different foot shapes.

A footwear securement system employs a plurality of elastic, stretchable elongated tubes, each of which extend through opposed corresponding openings of the footwear. Retainers are slidably receivable on the tubes and releasably engageable against opposed sides of the footwear so as to secure the footwear to a wearer. The retainers are preferably lock washers. One end of each of the tubes is preferably tapered.